OBJECTIVES

: The current study was conducted to enlist the economical traditionally used herbal medicinal plants against respiratory problems especially asthma in different districts of Baluchistan.

METHODS

: The ethno botanical knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants that are used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaires by interviewing local communities, local women, local men, herbal dealers (Pansars), local healers (Hakims) and personal interviews during visits. The interviews were held in the local community, to investigate knowledgeable persons and local people who are the main user of medicinal plants. Information regarding their price, local name, botanical name, parts used, chemical constituents, mode of administration and application are tabulated. The collected data were analyzed statistically by using SPSS. kruskal-Wallis and Man Whitney tests were applied to observe the study variables.

RESULTS

: In this study it was observed that 60% among men and 40% among women were well informed about plants. It was economical. It was also concluded that the aged people had more understanding about the folk uses of medicinal plants as compared to younger people (P = 0.002). It was further found that most of these plants are already known for similar uses and most species had multi uses.

CONCLUSIONS

In the current study, 12 traditional herbal medicinal species from different districts of Balochistan used to treat respiratory problems especially asthma was reported and documented. This traditional treatment is still needed by the rural communities of Balochistan, Pakistan. Due to high cost, poor socioeconomic conditions and accesses to hospitals and allopathic medicines. In this context, assessment of active substances and testing their activities against different respiratory diseases causing asthma an interesting subject for the feature